Hot metal mixer with movable cover



y 0, 1955 H. L. MCFEATERS 2,708,108

HOT METAL- MIXER WITH MOVABLE COVER Filed Dec. 4, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 1o o J INVENTOR. Harry L. McFeafers BY WWW Hi5 A TTORNEYS May 10, 1955 H.MCFEATERS HOT METAL MIXER WITH MOVABLE COVER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.4, 1952 mm 5 m \mn on INVENTOR. Harry L. McFeafers HIS ATTORNE Y5 May10, 1955 H. L. M FEATERS HOT METAL MIXER WITH MOVABLE COVER '7Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 4. 1952 INVENTOR. Harry L McFeafers n l f, In

Hi5 ATTORNEYS y 10, 1955 H. MCFEATERS 7 2,708,108

HOT METAL MIXER WITH MOVABLE COVER Filed Dec. 4, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5May 10, 1955 H. MCFEATERS HOT METAL MIXER wm-r MOVABLE COVER 7Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 4 1952 INVENTOR. rry L. Mal-e ale/s 3 j mm nim kWh HIS A r TOR/VE rs y 0, 1955 H. M FEATERS 2,708,108

HOT METAL MIXER WITH MOVABLE COVER Filed Dec. 4, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 7KIT-1 llllllllllllllllllllIHIIIUHIIIIIIIIl lIH United States P HoT METALMIXER WITH MovABLE COVER Harry L. McFeaters, New Castle, Pa., assignorto Pennsylvania Engineering Corporation, New Castle, Pa., a corporationof Pennsylvania Application December 4, 1952, Serial No. 324,099

17 Claims. (Cl. 266-39) This invention relates to hot metal mixers andmore particularly to the covers or roofs of such mixers.

Hot metal mixers as now generally constructed are arranged to be tiltedabout a horizontal axis toward and from pouring position. They areprovided with a pouring spout and with one or more openings throughwhich the molten metal is charged into the same. These charging openingsare usually on the opposite side of the center line from the pouringspout.

These mixers serve as equalizers and storing reservoirs for molten pigiron on its way from the blast furnaces or cupolas to the furnaces(converters, open hearths or electric furnaces) where the molten iron isconverted into steel.

These hot metal mixers are lined with refractories and of necessity thisrefractory lining has to be repaired or replaced from time to time.Since they are maintained at a high temperature, they are slow to coolwhen emptied, and an object of this invention is to produce a hot metalmixer a substantial portion of the cover of which can be moved to exposethe interior of the mixer in order to hasten cooling of the same to atemperature low enough to allow workmen to enter the mixer through suchopening for the purpose of making repairs.

'Another object is to produce a hot metal mixer a sub stantial portionof the cover or roof of which can be lifted and moved toward and fromposition by means mounted on and carried by such cover or roof.

I A further object is to produce a hot metal mixer having the majorportion of its top between its rockers open except for a cover or roofwhich can be moved to provide a relatively large opening either on thesame side as the pouring spout or on the side opposite the pouring spoutfor the purpose of exposing the interior of the mixer in order to hastenthe cooling of the same when emptied or for the purpose of providingdifferently located charging openings therein.

These and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in thisparticular art, I attain by means of the structure described in thespecification and illustrated in the drawings accompanying and formingpart of this application.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a hot metal mixer embodyingthis invention. In this view, one pair of hold-downs for the supportrolls are omitted for the purpose of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line IIIIIl of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line IVIV of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the stop mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

' Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 1;

Fig.8 is a sectional -view taken on line VlIlVIIl of Fig.- 1;

. Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of the right-hand end portion of Fig. 2with the cover in its down position, the hold-down for the right-handsupporting roll of Fig. 2 being omitted;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the right-hand end of Fig. 2 with thecover in its raised position, the hold-down for the right-handsupporting roll of Fig. 3 being omitted;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line Xl-Xl of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line XIIXII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. l, but shows the outline in plan ofthe metal mixer; with the cover in open position moved toward thepouring spout side; and

'Fig. 14 is a sectional view in elevation showing the cover moved to theopen position shown in Fig. 13 and with the material handling basketsuspended in position above the opening in the top of the mixer.

In the example of this invention shown in the drawings, the mixer bodyis provided with a pair of spaced rockers 21. To the upper ends of eachof these rockers is secured a box-like girder 22 (Fig. 2 and 3) whichhas its upper member 22a extended inwardly toward the mixer center andis braced by brackets 23.

Each girder-like member 22 forms the support for one rail of a trackcomprising rails 24 and 25'. Rail 24 is provided with an upstandinglongitudinally extending bead 24a while rail 25 is plain. Racks 26 arealso supported by girder-like members 22 and lie alongside of trackrails 24 and 25.

The mixer body is provided with a pouring spout 27 which projects fromone side thereof, preferably midway between its ends.

The top of the mixer between rockers 21 and its ends is covered withpermanent end covers or root portions 28. The major part of the mixerbody between the rockers is open but is adapted to be covered by themovable roof of this invention, which is rectangular and of sufiicientsize to cover this opening in the mixer body.

The cover comprises a circumscribing frame formed of'I-beams 29, abottom sealing member 30 which is preferably formed of cast steelsections secured to the lower flanges of I-beams 29 and laterallyextending smaller I-beams 31 which have their ends secured to sideI-beams 29 preferably by welding. l-beams 31 form 1 supports for therefractory roof body 32 which is preferably made up of interlockingrefractory tile which fill the rectangular space bounded by sealingmember 30. As pointed out above, these tile are preferably suspendedfrom I-beams 31 by suitable means not shown but now common in suspendedroof structures.

The roof structure of this invention when in normal position, that is,when closing the opening which embraces the major part of the areabetween rockers 21 has its sealing member 30 resting on the uppersurface 33 of the upwardly extending mouth wall 34 surrounding suchopening. The upwardly extending wall 34 along with the body 20 forms thecontainer for the molten metal.

The roof or cover structure is supported on four wheels 35, 36, 37 and38. Wheels 35 and 37 are keyed to opposite ends of a shaft 39, whilewheels 36 and 38 are keyed to opposite ends of a similar shaft 40. Theopposite end portions of shafts 39 and 40 are journaled in pillow blocks41 which are mounted for sliding vertical movement in a rectangularframe or yoke 42 secured to the side I-beams 29 comprised in thecircumscribing frame of the movable cover or roof structure. Each ofwheels 37 and 38 is provided with a circumferentially extending groovewhich in the case of wheel 37 is numbered 37a and in the case of wheel33 is numbered 38a. These grooves co-operate with longitudinallyextending bead \3 24:: on the track rail 24 for preventing lateralmovement of the cover or roof structure.

Track rail 25 upon which wheels and 36 are adapted to bear is plain.Mounted alongside of each track rail 24 and 25 is a rack 26. Wheels 36and 38 are formed or provided with concentric pinions 4444 which meshwith such racks and are utilized in propelling the roof or coverstructure to and from normal position.

Before moving the cover with relation to the opening in the mixer toplocated between the rockers, it is necessary to lift sealing member 30of the cover structure out of contact with the top 33 of upstanding wall34 that surrounds the top opening.

Cover lifting mechanism Two shafts 45 preferably located directly aboveshafts 39 and are journaled in bearings secured within pillow blocks4646. These pillow blocks are secured to cross I-beams 31 by means ofbracket members 47-47.

Each shaft at its opposite ends is provided with what in effect is astub shaft 45a which is eccentric to the main part of the shaft (bestseen in Figures 9 and 10) which is journaled within pillow blocks 46.Each of these eccentric stub ends is journaled within an antifrictionbearing 48 which is mounted within a pillow block 49 (Fig. 12), whichrests on a bronze bearing plate 50 which is secured to the top of pillowblock 41. Pillow block 49 has side or lateral as well as verticalclearance within yoke or rectangular frame 42.

Anti-friction bearings 48 for the eccentric stub ends 45a of shafts 45are in vertical alignment with the bearings 51 in pillow blocks 41 andsince the pillow blocks 41 for shafts 39 and 49 and pillow blocks 49within which the anti-friction bearings 48 are mounted are always incontact with bronze bearing plate 53 therebetween, the center lines ofstub shafts 45a (eccentric) and the center lines of shafts 39 and 40will remain fixed at all times. In one example of the structure of thisinvention, the eccentricity of stub shaft 45a with relation to shafts 45is :4; of an inch, therefore, the center of the upper surfaces of shafts4-5 when the eccentric stub shaft ends are in lower position as shown inFig. 10 will be 1 /2 inches higher than when said stub shafts 450 are intheir upper position shown in Fig. 9.

The bearings for shafts 39 and 40 are laterally offset with relation tothe bearings for the shafts 45 within pillovt blocks 46. Both shafts 45have keyed thereto sprocket wheels 52 for double roller chains 53 and 54which mesh with sprocket wheels on shaft 55 of a gear reducer 56 whichis driven by an electric motor 57 equipped with a braking device 58.

When the cover or roof is in closed or down position (Figs. 9 and It)with sealing member 30 in contact with the upper surface 33 of thesurrounding wall 34, the roof or cover will have to be lifted before itcan be moved in either direction either toward or from the pouring spoutside of the mixer. When the cover is in closed position, the stub shaftends 450 are in raised position (Figs. 9 and 11) and when the roof orcover is in raised position (Figs. 10 and 12) the stub shafts 45a are indown position.

From the above, it will be seen that shafts 45 when rotated by gearreducer 56 through the chains and sprockets driven thereby, rotate aboutthe center lines or axes of the eccentric stub ends 4511 and not aboutthe U centers or axes of shafts 45. Shafts 45 serve as cams during theirrotation and lift the movable portion of the roof structure withrelation to the mixer body and the fixed portion of the roof structuresuch as its support wheels, the shafts 39 and 4t and their bearings andthe anti-friction bearings for the stub ends 45a.

Reduction gear 56 as well as motor 57 are mounted on a platform 59secured to the tops of certain of the cross I-beams 31 (Fig. 7).

Shaft 40 which carries pinions 4444 which mesh with racks 26-26 isprovided with a double roller sprocket 60 driven from a sprocket 61keyed to the low speed shaft of a speed reducer 62 by means of a doubleroller chain 63. This speed reducer is driven by an electric motor 64equipped with a brake 65. Sprocket chains 63 are provided with aweighted chain tightener 66 made necessary because of the decrease indistance between the sprockets 60 and 61 when the roof or cover is inlowered position. Speed reducer 62 and motor 64 are mounted on a supportmember 67 secured to the tops of certain cross I-beams 31.

Hold-downs 68 (see Figure 3) extend over the support wheels 35 and 37and act as brakes or stops when the cover is in closed position. Thesehold-downs are secured to the top member 22a of box-like girders 22 asat 69.

A removable hopper 70 is supported on the tops of two of the crossI-beams 31 (see Fig. 14). A cover for hopper 70 as well as a cover forpouring spout 27 as is now common may be utilized. Hot metal pour flowsdown the downwardly and inwardly converging sides of the hopper 70 intoand through a charging opening defined by the throat of an outwardly andupwardly turned refractory mouth wall 76 of the refractory roof orcover, see Figure 14.

In Fig. 14, a basket 71 is shown suspended above the opening in the topof the mixer occasioned by moving the cover along the track rails to thelimit of its travel toward the pouring spout side of the mixer.

Each end of the track rails is provided with a stop 72 (Figs. 4 and 14).An auxiliary stop for preventing movement of the cover toward the spoutside of the mixer while the mixer is being tilted to pouring position isdisclosed in detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. This auxiliary stop comprises apin 73, movable vertically through an opening in one of the track railsand member 22a of member 22. This auxiliary stop is operated by an airor hydraulic cylinder 74 and a link and lever mechanism 75.

In certain cases, it may be desirable to omit the charging opening onshaped charging mouth wall 76 and utilize the movable cover or roof forproviding an opening or openings on opposite sides of the mixer in orderto reduce wear or erosion of the mixer lining occasioned by the movementof the metal within the mixer during charging operations.

It will be apparent that moving the cover to the limit of its traveltoward the pouring spout side of the mixer or toward the opposite sidethereof will provide a large opening which not only facilitates thecooling of the lining when it is necessary or desirable to repair orreplace the same, but permits accessibility to the interior of the mixerby the workman and also permits boxes or baskets of material to belowered through such opening when repairs to the lining are to be made.

What I claim is:

1 1. A movable cover structure to be mounted over an open mouth portionof a tiltable hot metal mixer comprising, a frame, a refractory bodysupported by said frame adapted to substantially cover the mouth portionU of the hot metal mixer, and said refractory body having a mouth wallshaped to define a hot metal charging opening therethrough.

2. A movable cover structure to be mounted over an open mouth portion ofa tiltable hot metal mixer comprising, a rigid frame, a refractory bodysupported by said frame adapted to substantially cover the hot metalmixer, said refractory body having an outwardly-upwardly turned mouthwall shaped to define a hot metal charging opening therethrough, and ahopper removably mounted on said rigid frame in a co-operating positionabove said mouth wall to direct a hot metal charge into the chargingopening.

3. In a tiltable hot metal mixer having a tiltably-supported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof, a movablecover structure for the mouth of the container that tilts therewith andcomprises a frame, a refractory body supported by said frame andsubstantially covering the open mouth of the container, and saidrefractory body having a mouth wall shaped to define a hot metal chargeopening therethrough.

4. In a tiltable hot metal mixer having a tiltably-supported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof, a movablecover structure for the container that tilts therewith and comprises, ar1g1d frame, a refractory body supported by said frame and substantiallycovering the mouth of the container, said refractory body having a mouthwall shaped to define a hot metal charging opening therethrough, and adownwardly-converging hopper removably mounted on sa d rigid frame insubstantial alignment with and above said mouth wall to direct a chargeinto the charging opemng.

5. In a tiltable hot metal mixer having a tiltably-supported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof, a movablecover structure for the container that tilts therewith and comprises, aframe, a refractory body supported by said frame to substantially coverthe mouth of the container, said refractory body having a month wallshaped to define a hot metal charging opennig therethrough, and means toprevent displacement of said movable cover structure toward thedischarge spout side of the container when the container is tilted in apouring direction.

6. In a tiltable hot metal mixer having a tiltably-supported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof, a movablecover structure for the container that tilts therewith and comprises, aframe, a refractory body supported by said frame to substantially coverthe mouth of the container, said refractory body having a mouth wallshaped to define a hot metal charging opening therethrough, poweroperated means supported on said cover structure for raising andlowering the same with relation to the container, and separate poweroperated means also supported on said cover structure for moving saidcover to and from an uncovering position above the container.

7. In a tiltable hot metal mixer having a tiltably-supported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof, andhaving a track mounted on the container, a movable coverstructure forthe container that tilts therewith and comprises, a frame, a refractorybody supported by said frame and substantially covering the mouth of thecontainer, said refractory body having a mouth wall shaped to define ahot metal charging opening, rollers carried by said frame in operativeengagement with the track, power operated means supported on said coverstructure for raising and lowering said cover structure with relation tothe mouth of the container, and separate power means also supported onsaid cover structure for moving the same along the track to and from anuncovering position above the container.

8. In a tiltable hot metal mixer having a tiltably-supported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof, andhaving a track mounted on the container, a movable cover structure forthe container that tilts therewith and comprises, a frame, a refractorybody supported by said frame to substantially cover the container, saidrefractory body being shaped to define a hot metal charging opening,rollers carried by said frame in operative engagement with the track,power operated means supported on said cover structure for raising andlowering the same with relation to the container, and separate powermeans also supported on said cover structure for moving the same alongthe track to and from an uncovering position above the container, andmeans to limit movement of said roof structure longitudinally along saidtrack beyond a preselected position in either direction.

9. In a tiltable hot metal mixer having a tiltably-supported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof, andhaving a track mounted on the container, a movable cover structure forthe container that tilts therewith and comprises, a frame,,a refractorybody supported by said frame to substantially cover the container, saidrefractory body being shaped to define a hot metal charging opening,rollers carried by said frame in operative engagement with the track,power operated means supported on said cover structure for raising andlowering the same with relation to the container, separate power meansalso supported on said cover structure for moving the same along thetrack to and from an uncovering position above the container, and meansfor preventing displacement of said cover structure toward the dischargespout side of the container when the container is tilted in a pouringdirection.

10. In a tiltable hot metal mixer having a tiltablysnpported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof and havinga track mounted on said container, a movable cover structurefor thecontainer that tilts therewith and comprises, a frame, a refractory bodysupported by said frame to substan tially cover the container, saidrefractory body being shaped to define a hot metal charging opening,rollers carried by said frame in operative engagement with the track,power operated means supported on said cover structure for raising andlowering the same with relation to the container, and separate powermeans also supported on said cover structure for moving the same alongthe track to and from an uncovering position above the container, andmeans for limiting lateral movement of said cover structure with respectto the tracks.

11. In a tiltable hot metal mixer having a tiltablysupported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof and havinga track mounted on the container, a movable cover structure for thecontainer that tilts therewith and comprises, a frame, a refractory bodysupported by said frame and substantially covering the container, saidrefractory body being shaped to define a hot metal charging opening,rollers carried by said frame in operative engagement with the track,power operated means supported on said cover structure for raising andlowering the same with relation to the container, separate power meansalso supported on said cover structure for moving the same along saidtrack to and from position above the container, means to limit movementof said cover structure longitudinally along the track beyond apreselected position in either direction, and means for preventingdisplacement of said cover structure toward the discharge spout side ofthe container when the container is tilted in a pouring direction.

12. In a tiltable hot metal mixer, having a tiltably-. supported openmouth container provided with a-discharge spout on one side thereof, andhaving a track mounted on the container, a movable cover structure forthe container that tilts therewith and comprises, a'frame, a refractorybody supported by said frame to substantially cover the container, saidrefractory body being shaped to define a hot metal charging opening,rollers connected to said frame in operative engagement with the track,power operated means supported on said cover structure for raising andlowering the same with relation to the container, separate power meansalso supported on said cover structure for moving the same along thetrack to and from an uncovering position above the container, means tolimit movement of said cover structure longitudinally along the trackbeyond a preselected position in either direction, and means forpreventing lateral movement of said cover structure with respect to thetracks.

13. In a tiltable hot metal mixer, having a tiltably supported openmouth container provided with a dis charge spout on one side thereof,and having a track mounted on the container, a movable cover structurefor the container that tilts therewith and comprises, a frame, arefractory body supported by the frame to substantially cover thecontainer, said refractory body being shaped to define a hot metalcharging opening, rollers carried by said frame in operative engagementwith the track, power operated means supported on said cover structurefor raising and lowering the same with relation to the container,separate power means also supported on said cover structure for movingthe same along the track to and from an uncovering position above thecontainer, means to limit movement of said cover structure longitudiallyalong the track beyond a preselected position in either direction, meansfor preventing displacement of said cover structure toward the dischargespout side of the container when the container is tilted in a pouringdirection, and means for preventing lateral movement of said coverstructure with respect to the tracks.

14. In a tiltable hot metal mixer, having a tiltably' supportedopen-mouth container provided with a discharge spout on one sidethereof, and having a track mounted on the container, and a movablecover structure for the container that tilts therewith and comprises, aframe, a refractory body supported by said frame to substantially coverthe container, said refractory body being shaped to dcfine a hot metalcharging opening, at least two individually supporting shafts rotatablycoupled with said frame, rollers at opposite ends of said support ingshafts in operative engagement with the track, pinions fixed to therollers of at least one of said supporting shafts, racks fixed parallelto the track in position to be engaged by said pinions, power operatedmeans on said cover structure for raising and lowering the same withrelation to the container, separate power operated means also supportedon said cover structure to rotate at least the supporting shaftassociated with said pinions to move said cover structure along thetrack to and from an uncovering position above the container.

15. In a tiltable hot metal mixer, having a tiltablysupported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof, andhaving a track mounted on the container, and a movable cover structurefor the container that tilts therewith and comprises, a frame, arefractory body supported by said frame to substantially cover thecontainer, said refractory body being shaped to define a hot metalcharging opening, at least two individually supporting shafts rotatablycoupled with said frame, rollers at opposite ends of said supportingshafts in operative engagement with the track, pinions fixed to therollers of at least one of said supporting shafts, racks fixed parallelto the tracks in position to be engaged by said pinions, separate poweroperated means also supported on said cover structure to rotate at leastthe supporting shaft associated with said pinions to move said coverstructure along the track to and from an uncovering position above thecontainer, an individual lifting shaft for each corresponding individualsupporting shaft to rotatably support said cover structure, each saidlifting shaft having its longitudinal axis parallel to the axis of anassociated supporting shaft, individual stub shafts fixed at the ends ofsaid lifting shafts and having their longitudinal axes parallel to andeccentric with respect to the axes of their associated lifting shafts,bearing means for said stub shafts mounted in load exchange relationshipwith associated individual supporting shafts, power operated means onsaid cover structure to rotate said lifting shafts and raise and lowersaid cover structure with relation to the container, and separatepower-operated means also supported on said cover structure to rotate atleast the supporting shaft associated with said pinions to move saidcover structure along the track to and from an uncovering position abovethe container.

16. In a tiltable hot metal mixer, having a tiltablysupported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof and havinga track mounted on the container, and a movable cover structure for saidcontainer that tilts therewith and comprises, a frame, a refractory bodysupported by said frame to substantially cover the container, saidrefractory body being shaped to define a hot metal charging opening,rollers carried by said frame in operative engagement with the track,power-operated means supported on said cover structure for raising andlowering the same with relation to said container, separate power meansalso supported on said cover structure for moving the same along thetrack to and from an uncovering position above the container, means forpreventing displacement of said cover structure toward the dischargespout side of the container when the container is tilted in a pouringdirection, and means for preventing lateral movement of said coverstructure with respect to the tracks.

17. In a tiltable hot metal mixer, having a tiltablysupported open-mouthcontainer provided with a discharge spout on one side thereof, andhaving a movable cover structure for said container that tilts therewithand comprises, a frame, and a refractory body supported by said frame tosubstantially cover the container, said refractory body being shaped todefine a hot metal charging opening therethrough, power-operated meanssupported on said cover structure for raising and lowering the same withrelation to the container, separate power operated means also supportedon said cover structure for moving the same to and from an uncoveringposition above the container, and means to limit movement of said coverstructure to and from an uncovering position above the container whensaid cover structure is in its lowered position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS721,048 Kennedy Feb. 17, 1903 1,708,007 Astrom Apr. 9, 1929 2,137,813Schramm Nov. 22, 1938 2,138,886 Schramm Dec. 6, 1938 2,155,540 GoldbergApr. 25, 1939 2,341,054 McFeaters Feb. 8, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 321,368France Sept. 9, 1902 216,664 Great Britain June 5, 1924

